Page 4 of Secrets & Desires
“I refuse to be beaten,” Livia muttered. Eventually, Moriko pushed Livia’s hands out oftheway.
“Letme.”
As Livia held the trays of food, Moriko deftly worked Liv’s hair into a messy bun at the nape of her neck. “That’s the best you’re going to get, girl, so livewithit.”
Livia tentatively patted it. “You’re a miracle worker. From now on, I’ll pay you to be my hairwrangler.”
Moriko laughed. “You couldn’taffordme.”
When they arrived at the mansion, they were stunned into silence. The old plantation home had been modernized to some extent—a plaque on the door detailed its history and its passage to the Renaud family in the 1800s, wherein all slaves were freed and the plantation became a family homestead rather than a workingfreehold.
The imposing white building with shuttered windows and soft light radiating from within was decorated with high-quality Halloween trimmings. Moriko grinned at Livia as they passed a batch of expertly carved pumpkins. “You think they got Michelangelo todothem?”
Livia rolled her eyes. The place screamed money and opulence but Livia wasn’t impressed. As they moved into the kitchen, she saw Marcel talking to a young man who was dressed in a dark navy sweater and jeans, and who Livia guessed was the owner’s assistant. He had dark curls and the most intense—and beautiful—green eyes she hadeverseen.
The stranger sensed her scrutiny and looked up. Their eyes met and Livia felt a shudder of desire ripple through her. God, if even thestafflooked likesupermodelshere…
She nudged Moriko. “Does Marcel want us to change now or after we’vesetup?”
“After. Apparently, there’s a dedicated roomforus.”
“Fancy.”
“I know, right? Usually we have to squat in the back of the van to getready.”
Livia snorted and between them, they quickly arranged the canapes on the silver trays. When they had finished, Livia saw the handsome assistant had gone and Marcel was nodding at them. “Lovely job, the food looks great. So, this thing kicks off in an hour but guests are starting to arrive, so we’ll start with the welcome pumpkin-spice sidecars first up. Think youcancope?”
“No worries, boss,” Moriko hugged Marcel, who turned red with pleasure. “We’ll show these rich kids a good time…wait, that sounded dirtier than I meantitto.”
Livia snorted with laughter as Moriko shrugged. “Come on then, let’s getdressed.”
Ahalf hour later,Livia was regretting the tightness of her skirt. It had been her go-to throughout college—short, black, and figure-hugging even back then when she was ten pounds lighter. She’d dragged it out of her closet this morning—it had been the cleanest, most professional skirt she could find. I need to go shopping,she told herself as she plastered a smile on her face and made the rounds with a tray ofdrinks.
The mansion’s main ballroom (“Mainballroom,” she’d muttered to an amused Moriko, “because the other ballrooms are toosmall.”) was decorated beautifully, even the cynical Livia had to admit. Twinkle lights draped the walls and soft music was playing as the guests milled around and talked and drank. Moriko was making the first pass with a canape tray and Livia could tell her friend was gritting her teeth, fending off unwanted remarks andcome-ons.
“Hey, Livvy,” she heard Roan Saintmarc’s voice behind her and turned. She was actually relieved to see a friendly face; if the guests weren’t turning their noses up at her presence, or trying to talk her into bed, they looked through her as if she were invisible. Roan’s smile was friendly. He indicated the man he was talking with, a tall, dark-haired man with a neatly trimmed beard and darkbrowneyes.
“San, this is my friend from my favorite restaurant. Livia, this is Sandor Carpentier, a good friendofmine.”
Sandor Carpentier had a warm, open smile as he shook Livia’s hand. She grinned at them both, happy to see friendly faces at last. “Can I get you fellas a refill?” She waved the bottle of Krug she was holding and topped up their glasses. “Boss tells me the good bourbon will be out soon,” she said withawink.
“If I know Nox, it will be,” Roan said, and looked around. “Talking of whom, have you met our lord and masteryet,Liv?”
She shook her head. “But he would probably tell me to get back to work. Nice seeing you, Mr. Saintmarc, Mr.Carpentier.”
“Sandor, please,” the man said, and Livia decided she liked his merry, twinkling eyes. He didn’t seem as aloof as the others, even Roan. “And if you knew Nox, you’d know that’s unlikely. He’d probably insist you join us for adrink.”
Livia smiled and made her excuses. Despite what they said, she didn’t want Marcel to get into trouble if she was caught fraternizing with the guests. She made her way back to the kitchen to refill her tray. Moriko was just coming in from thegarden.
“Hey boo, I just finished up my break and Marcel told me to let you grab one now that I’m done. There are a couple of good places to hide and take your shoes off outthere.”
Livia smiled at her friend gratefully and headed out of the kitchen door into the lush gardens. It was darker down here than at the front of the mansion, and she could see a fog coming in off the bayou at the end of the property. Livia thought it was much spookier, befitting the Halloween vibe of the party, and yet more beautiful than any of the decorationsinside.
With a soft moan, she eased off her heels and wondered why she hadn’t worn her usual flats. No, she knew why—she wanted to make a good impression for Marcel. She knew she could pull off the cool, professional vibe with her heels on, and at least it gave her a few extra inches when she needed to be seen. Still, her feet pulsed with pain and when she put her hot soles on cool ground, she sighed withrelief.
She crept barefoot into a little grove, and seeing the edge of a stone seat, headed for it. She stopped, seeing the other end was already occupied. “Sorry,” she said, then saw it was the assistant she’d shared a moment withearlier.
He had changed out of his sweater and jeans and was now wearing what looked to be a very expensive black suit.Perks of the job, she suspected, but her attention was drawn by the way it fit his broad shoulders and slim figure so well. She meant to turn and go, but the sheer sadness in his eyes took her breath away. “Are you okay?” Her voice was soft and the man stared at her, his eyes intense, before he half nodded then shookhishead.
